Szczawnica

The Dietl Square in Szczawnica can be visited by following the paths of the Upper Park. Initially, the square was the bed of the Szczawny Brook. It was not until the 19th century, thanks to the initiative of Józef Szalay, that it was transformed into a square for visitors to the spa. The square is named after Jozef Dietl, a balneologist and friend of Szalay, whose obelisk can be admired in the southern part of the square. In the centre is a fountain with a bronze sculpture of a "Woman with a jug". The Swiss-style buildings surrounding the square, such as the Dom nad Zdrojami, Villa Szwajcarka Górna, Villa Palace and the Dutchman's House, give the place a unique character. It comes as no surprise that the square is the cultural centre of Szczawnica's life. Numerous cultural and music festivals are held there. On site, you can also enjoy the Pump Room for healing waters (about which more in this article), delightful in its interior, and sit in a café, enjoying a delicious coffee or ice cream while admiring the charms of Dietl Square.

Undoubtedly, during our travels, we are delighted by the small architecture of green places, which adds to the atmosphere and becomes the centre of city life. Such is the case with the promenade on the Grajcarek river, which combines the natural beauty of the Grajcarek, in whose valley Szczawnica is located, with what has been created by people: a bridge of lovers, a path along the river with wooden gazebos and benches for resting or places where one can sit, drink coffee or eat ice cream.

Beginning from the lower station of the cable car to Palenica, all the way to Pienińska Street along the Dunajec River, you can take a 1.8 km route in beautiful natural surroundings and even enter the water, which makes many families with children happy on hot days. Another thing that makes the promenade attractive is the pedestrian and bicycle path named after Anna and Artur Werner, which can be easily navigated by people with disabilities or cyclists. You can choose this place if you want to take a walk in beautiful nature without too much effort and with professional equipment or if you want to go further along the Dunajec river to Slovakia.

Upper Park

Upper Park in Štiavnica is the oldest spa park, which is not only an ideal place for a stroll, but also has a health-promoting character thanks to a health path with larch trees. There are also important buildings related to the history of Szczawnica, such as the Spa Chapel, the Inhalatorium, the Concert Shell, and statues commemorating important figures of the region. It is a place of relaxation, attracted by its charm and spirit of tradition.

The Lower Park

The Lower Park in Szczawnica is a picturesque place with a rich history. Located along Main Street, it offers many attractions and opportunities for relaxation. You can find here: a grotto, commemorating the figure of Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz, a fountain, a pond with colourful fish, spa water from the "Wanda" spring and gazebos in the Zakopane style. The various zones allow everyone to relax. Children can play on the playground and in the shade of the trees, botany lovers can enjoy the various plant species, and tourists can relax in the natural surroundings.

The undoubted attraction of Szczawnica is the Dunajec River located in its vicinity, thanks to which you can take advantage of boat rafting with locally dressed rafters, who spare no humour during the approximately 2-hour trip, and kayaking, which allows you to enjoy views that many people describe as almost unreal.

Before setting off to where the rafting trips are organised, you can, by strolling along the promenade on the Grajcarek River, find yourself less than an hour from the centre of Szczawnica on a promontory overlooking the Dunajec. There, you will find, among other things, a wooden sculpture depicting the pioneers of sport and tourism in the Pieniny - Anna and Artur Werner (from them comes the name of the mountain canoeing competition - Memorial of Anna and Artur Werner - organised in the summer) and a sculpture of a peacock woven from flowers. However, what delights most here is the view of the river, on which sometimes a dozen rafting boats filled with tourists sail, and the Pieniny Mountains, which seem to meander along the river.

You can get to Palenica (719 m above sea level) from Szczawnica on foot, crossing the bridge over the Grajcarku River near the Lower Capital. Follow the yellow hiking trail. The climb should take about an hour. You can also take the PKL cable car in Szczawnica, open all year round, the opening hours of which may vary depending on the season.

It is worth taking the cable car at least one way because of the amazing view of Szczawnica, the promenade over the Grajcarok and the Pieniny Mountains. At the top of Palenica, we can see sculptures depicting ants, bats, dragonflies or mushrooms on an enlarged scale, use the gravity slide or eat at the Szałas Groń hostel, and all year round enjoy breathtaking views of the Pieniny stretching to the horizon.

The church in Severynówka was established on the initiative of the Polish Teachers' Union. In 1922, the organisation obtained land for the construction of a small sanatorium from Count Stadnicki, the then owner of Szczawnica. The facility was put into use as early as 1925, but due to the considerable distance from the town centre and the religious needs of the visitors, it was decided to build a wooden chapel near the sanatorium.It is worth visiting for its aesthetic value and its history.